A U01 file is Barudan's embroidery format, written for Barudan commercial multi-needle machines. It stores the stitches, jumps and color changes for a design, but not the thread colors. Barudan machines also read DST, the de facto standard on commercial machines, so plenty of shops run DST on their Barudans and keep U01 for when a machine or workflow calls for it.
| U01 | DST | |
|---|---|---|
| Native to | Barudan | Tajima |
| Read by | Barudan machines | Barudan, Tajima, Ricoma, SWF and most other commercial machines |
| Thread colors | Not stored | Not stored |
| Best when | Your Barudan setup or operators expect it | You run several brands or trade files with other shops |
What a U01 file holds
A U01 is a stitch file in the same family as DST: a list of needle moves, each marked as a stitch, a jump or a machine command such as a color change. The difference is that it's written in Barudan's own format rather than Tajima's. It records where the thread changes but not which thread color to use, so the operator makes sure each needle carries the right thread.
It isn't an editable design either. There are no shapes inside, only the stitches that came out of digitizing. If you need the logo at a different size, go back to the artwork rather than scaling the U01 by much.
U01 or DST on a Barudan?
Both will sew. A few points help you choose:
- Use DST if you run a mixed shop. If you also have Tajima, Ricoma or SWF machines, one DST runs on all of them, and it's the format customers and other shops will usually send you.
- Use U01 if your Barudan setup expects it. Some operators prefer the machine's native format, and some older machines or shop routines are built around it.
- Running a Melco too? Use EXP on that machine; it's in the same download.
Making a U01 file from a logo
Upload the logo
In the studio, drop your PNG, JPG or WebP logo into the Image upload. Under Advanced you can set how many colors to detect (2 to 12) and how the background is removed.
Pick the size and fabric
Choose a preset such as Cap front (55 mm, 2.2 in wide) or Jacket back (250 mm, 9.8 in wide). For hats, pick the Cap fabric so the design sews from the center outwards; how to embroider caps covers the rest.
Check the numbers
Watch it sew, then open Details for the stitch count, machine time (estimated at 700 stitches per minute, sewing only), thread changes and trims. Those figures feed straight into a quote; see stitch count and pricing.
Download and print
Unlock the design and download all 8 formats as a .zip, with the U01 and DST both inside. Print the Production sheet so the operator threads each needle with the right color.
The full walk-through is in how to turn a logo into an embroidery file, and DST vs PES explains how the commercial and home formats differ. For a crest with very fine detail or tiny text, a professional digitizer is still worth the fee.
Loading U01 files and common problems
Many Barudan machines load designs from a USB stick, and some can receive them over a network from Barudan's own software. Older machines may use a floppy drive or a floppy emulator. Your manual has the exact steps for your model.
- Wrong colors on the machine screen. U01 has no thread colors, so the screen shows whatever the machine assigns. Set each needle from the production sheet.
- The design is bigger than the frame. Sewing fields vary by model, frame and cap driver. Check yours, and resize in SatinSmith if needed; re-downloads of an unlocked design are free.
Questions
Can Barudan machines read DST files?
Yes. Barudan machines read DST as well as U01, which is why many shops use DST for everything. Pick whichever your operators are used to, and test-sew the first piece.
Does a U01 file store thread colors?
No. Like DST, it records where the color changes but not which thread to use. Send a thread list or production sheet with the file.
Can I convert U01 to DST?
Yes, many embroidery programs can open a U01 and save it as DST, and the other way round. The stitches carry over unchanged, so a poorly digitized design stays poor after conversion.